Renee Shaktivel
Staff Writer
Local citizens have caused more than half of this year’s wildfires spreading throughout Idaho.
While 100 percent of human-started wildfires are preventable, many haven’t learned their lesson yet as they continue to contribute to these natural disasters. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has provided several tips to citizens on how to help prevent these disasters from happening.
“Hearing about all the fires in the news makes me grateful that they haven’t hit where I live, but it seems like they keep getting closer and closer,” said Leo Kadavarayar, a graduate student. “Maybe I should take out renters’ insurance.”
With over 50 homes being evacuated on Aug. 16 in the Fort Hall area, there are obvious public health concerns when it comes to fires. The physical damage that can be done is cause for concern, but the smoke that accompanies these flames can be just as dangerous to people’s long-term health.
Wildfires that burn within 50 to 100 miles of a city can increase the pollution in the air up to 15 times the regular amount. Idaho has seen over 490,000 acres scorched in 2018, placing the state fifth for the most acres burned behind California, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas.
Short-term side effects from the smoke can be seen within hours of contact or delayed for a few days. These side effects can be recognized as scratchy throats, cough, irritated sinuses, headaches and burning eyes. However, those with asthma, congestive heart disease and other serious medical conditions could be facing more serious side effects.
On average, Americans spend about 6 percent of their time outdoors per week. This time outdoors may not cause immediate health concerns for the general population; however, when extra pollutions are calculated, even healthy individuals can become at risk.
“My allergies have been much more unbearable this summer,” Kadavarayar said. “I have had a constant runny nose and headaches this summer. I wasn’t sure what they were from until I knew how much the fires could affect it.”
Currently, there are 11 active wildfires contributing to Idaho’s poor Air Quality Indexes. Aug. 15 registered levels at unhealthy, and a predicted level of unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as older adults and children on Aug. 16 with Fine particulate matter of PM2.5.
Five pollutants are considered when measuring air quality: ground level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. The tiny particles in PM’s reduce visibility in the air, making the sky appear hazy; however, these small sizes allow them to travel to depths of our lungs that healthy levels of PM 10s cannot reach.
The BLM values are to protect the public, natural landscapes, wildlife and recreational areas through fire suppression, preparedness, predictive services, community assistance and education. Health professionals advise to heed the warnings given. Current conditions can be monitored online through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
After a few weeks of a record-breaking heat wave sweeping through Idaho, temperatures will start to drop, lowering the risk of potential wildfires and the returning the air quality to “Good.”
